Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1980 celebrates 45-year anniversary

Hall of Famers Published on : 7/13/2025

The four members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 1980 are being celebrated for their 45-year anniversary this year.

By Ashley Veldheer
Pro Football Hall of Fame

On Aug. 2, 1980, in Canton, Ohio, four football legends were enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This year, the legacies of cornerback HERB ADDERLEY, defensive end DAVID "DEACON" JONES, defensive tackle BOB LILLY and center JIM OTTO will be celebrated as part of their 45-year anniversary of entering their Canton home.

The Packers’ No. 1 draft pick in 1961 was cornerback Herb Adderley. Within two years of Adderley’s NFL debut, he saw immediate success, winning All-NFL honors. Throughout his career, Adderley earned five All-NFL honors and played in five Pro Bowls. As a defensive back, he collected 48 interceptions, returning them for 1,046 yards (21.8 yards per return) and bringing seven back for touchdowns. Adderley also served as a kickoff return specialist during his time in Green Bay before playing for the Dallas Cowboys. Adderley was no stranger to the Super Bowl, playing in four of the first six games and winning three Super Bowl rings.

Known as the “Deacon” for his speed, agility and quickness, defensive end David Jones was a 14th round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 1961. Jones was found by chance as Rams scouts noticed him while viewing film of an opponent, which led to Jones being underestimated by many. He quickly proved himself to be successful. He unanimously was selected for All-League honors for six years in a row (1965-1971) and selected for eight Pro Bowls. In 1967 and 1968, Jones was selected as the top defensive player in the NFL by a major news source. Through Jones’ 14-season career, he only missed five games, playing in a total of 191.

Known as “Mr. Cowboy,” Bob Lilly was an extremely successful defensive tackle. He earned first-team All-Pro honors from 1964-69 and once again in 1971, earned second-team All-Pro honors twice and was selected to play in 11 Pro Bowls. He scored four defensive touchdowns in his career and recorded 95.5 sacks. Lilly collected a total of 18 fumbles for 109 return yards in his career. Throughout his 14 seasons, he had only missed a single game as he accumulated a total of 196 games. Lilly is the first player in Cowboys history to spend his entire career with the franchise and be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Jim Otto never missed a game in his 15-year career as a center for the Oakland Raiders. Otto dominated the position in both the American Football League and the National Football League from 1960 through 1974. In both 1970 and 1971, he was first-team All-NFL, then second-team All-NFL in 1972 and was selected to the AFL All-Time Team in 1969. Otto played in all eight AFL All-Star Games and was selected to the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl in its inaugural three seasons after not missing a single game over 210 regular-season opportunities with the Raiders. Otto anchored an offensive line that helped the Raiders win seven divisional championships from 1967-1974.

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